The Reasons to Justify America's Going to War with Mexico

The Mexican-American War, one of many controversial wars in U.S history. In a debate over where the Mexican-American border was, and the ownership of none other than Texas. A war like this you never talk or hear much about it compared to wars such as the Civil War. The Mexican-American War may arguably be one of the most important wars in U.S. history. Thanks to winning this war the United States acquired most of the current day west such as California, Arizona, and Nevada to name some. A question must always be asked before going to war, Is it justified? Which in this case, yes. The United States was justified in going to war with Mexico because, they invited us, it was going to happen anyway, and they started it.

One reason why the United States was justified in going to war with Mexico is they were the ones who invited us to come over. After Mexico won its independence from Spain they started inviting American farmers to help prevent border violations and to protect them from Native Americans. Eventually Mexico offered land grants which attracted more and more settlers who wanted cheap land all for the low cost of obeying Mexican laws and recognizing Roman Catholicism. Fast forward a couple of years later and come to find that there were more Americans than Mexicans living in the area of modern day Texas. Now, I understand that it’s still technically Mexico’s land but, we offered to buy Texas, TWICE. After refusing to sell Mexico closed its borders and placed a heavy tax on American goods. Heavy tax equals angry Americans or people for that matter. Mexico thought they could be the roadblock against the expansive US when really they missed out on the chance to be strong allies with an even stronger nation.

Another reason why America was justified in going to war with Mexico was it was going to happen anyway. Got to love 1840’s America, Manifest Destiny, take what you want and move as far west as you can. John L. O’Sullivan writes “All this (will happen) in the natural flow of events…” (Doc A). When he says this he refers to Manifest Destiny or the belief that the U.S. could keep taking all land west of the Mississippi because “God wills it”. In the document O’Sullivan talks about how everyone should accept that Texas is a part of the U.S. and how not only will Mexico lose Texas but California as well. “The Anglo-Saxon foot is already on (California’s) borders” (Doc A). He then mocks the Mexican government going as far as to call them “Imbeciles”. Honestly, O’Sullivan is right, he recognizes how the U.S. is, he knows the pattern and he’s clearly seen it before with Andrew Jackson pushing the Native Americans back. He sees Mexico as just a hindrance to the United States, basically like the Native Americans.

My final reason why the United States was justified in going to war with Mexico was the fact that they started it. As childish as it sounds it is true. Mexican soldiers killed American soldiers, Polk confirms this by saying “Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soil” (Doc B). Granted there was no distinct agreement on the boundary diving Mexico and the U.S, Mexico was the aggressor and made a judgment call to kill innocent men. When Polk presented his speech to the Senate and the House of Representatives, the vote on whether or not to go to war was not surprising. 40 yes and 2 no from the Senate, 174 yes and 14 no from the House of Representatives (Doc B), so not only did Polk think it was necessary to go to war but so did the rest of the government. This all could have relatively been avoided by peacefully speaking to the United States government you may have closed your borders but you never spoke to the U.S. about where such borders lied. There are consequences to rash actions and Mexico learned that the hard way.

In closing I believe the United States was justified in going to war with Mexico because they originally invited the United States to come over, given the time of year Manifest Destiny made it so it was going to happen anyway, and they instigated the start of all this because of the killing of the American soldiers.